Give yourself some time

When your employee’s resignation comes from out of the blue the first thing you should do is set a time the following day to catch up with your employee. One business day (24 hours) gives you the chance to separate your emotional and rational reasoning, examine your business structure and needs then decide if a counter-offer is a worthwhile next step. 

Understand your employee’s reasons for leaving

If you can understand your employee’s motivations for resigning, you can target and identify possible changes to appeal to them to stay. Tangible changes are easiest to address (such as salary, career advancement or work/life balance). If their reason is related to working environment, this is much harder to address.

What can you offer?

Consider the value your employee currently brings to your business? If you believe they can continue to be a motivated and productive employee consider the elements to include in your counter-offer such as: 

• Increase in salary and/or benefits
• Increase in leave time
• Flexibility in hours and working arrangements
• Promotion
• Change in duties and responsibility
• Wellbeing incentives

Consider your wider team

If you counter-offer, what is the impact on your other employees?  Consider some strategies so you can manage their expectations and ensure they too feel valued and motivated. These may include:

• Clarity on roles and responsibilities within your business
• Salary appraisals
• Schedule for appraisals and constructive feedback
• Team building initiatives
• Succession planning

PN Personnel’s Drivers Assessment is a tool designed to provide this information, so you can plan useful retention strategies to improve your team.

Find the positive and be proactive
Losing a valued staff member may feel like a huge gap has opened in your business, however remember a new and fresh face can bring positive ideas and enthusiasm. 

If the thought of losing a valued employee is causing you concern, park your worries. Remember, should a situation arise for you, don’t stress, just pick up the phone and give us a call. We have a range of recruitment strategies and temporary cover available.

We’re the experts in recruitment, so you don’t have to be.